Browsing Tag

indietronica

Midnite Gossip illuminated the airwaves with the darkwave indietronica alchemy in ‘Streetlights’

Posted on 28 December 2023

Midnite Gossip, the Calgary-based indie-pop duo, has once again demonstrated their unique flair for blending genres with their nocturnal odyssey, Streetlights. The synthesis of moody pop, darkwave, industrial, and electronic post-punk elements come together to create a soundscape as enigmatic as the night itself.

From the first caustic beat, the tone is set for a journey through the urban night. The twilight of the synth lines glimmers beneath Nicky Markin’s vocals, providing a haunting backdrop to the siren-esque vocal harmonies to draw you deeper into an entrancing mix that lingers in your subconscious, echoing long after the outro.

The fusion of 90’s industrial synth wave with modern club anthem vibes creates a sound that is both ‘pretty but gritty’, a hallmark of Midnite Gossip’s style, which is influenced by The XX, Phantogram and St. Vincent. With their upcoming debut EP eagerly anticipated, Midnite Gossip is clearly a duo on the rise. Their performance at the Satellite Music + Arts Festival, alongside artists like Felix Cartel and Ruby Waters, has already cemented their status as one to watch.

Check out the new official music video for the Mickey Valenz Remix of Streetlights which premiered on December 21 via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Take an indietronica trip between dreams and reality with Jespfur’s latest single, strapped

Posted on 27 December 2023

Jespfur’s latest single, strapped, is a mesmerising journey through a soundscape that defies the ordinary by sonically blurring the lines between consciousness and the ethereal realms of dreams. Jespfur, known for his unpredictable musical trajectory, has once again surpassed expectations, delivering a piece that resonates with the innovative spirit of Jaws, Peace, and M83, yet stands in a league of its own.

Strapped is an intricate amalgam of indietronica, grunge, new wave, and dream pop. Each layer is meticulously woven, creating a rich texture that envelops the listener. The track begins with a subtle grungy guitar rhythm that gradually builds into a crescendo of lush, dreamy tonal beguile. Jespfur’s genius lies in his ability to marry these diverse genres into a harmonious blend, making Strapped a testament to his artistic versatility.

The song’s brilliance is further amplified by its ability to evoke synesthesia. As the melodies unfold, they paint vibrant colours across the mind’s canvas. This tonal sublimity is Jespfur’s signature, a unique quality that makes his music resonate on a deeper, more visceral level.

With Strapped, Jespfur continues to redefine the boundaries of modern music. His fearless exploration of sound and texture makes each release a revelation. As we eagerly await Jespfur’s next creation, strapped emits a signal of his limitless potential. Prepare to be transported to a world where dreams and reality converge in a symphony of sound.

Stream the official music video for strapped on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

ZOĒ conjured indietronica alchemy within the dreamily hued layers in her latest release, TELL ME

Posted on 26 November 2023

ZOĒ’s latest seminal single, TELL ME, is an intricately constructed track that weaves a tapestry of sound, skilfully balancing indie pop roots with a bold foray into progressive electronica. ZOĒ’s vocal prowess is the linchpin of the composition, providing a soulful constancy that enriches the dreamy, layered soundscape. Her voice, both innocent and imbued with the gravity of truth, serves as a beacon guiding the listener through the philosophical musings of the lyrics. The song’s thematic exploration of autonomy resonates deeply, posing introspective questions about self-reliance and the solitary nature of personal answers.

Since her debut with “Long Time Sun” in 2020, ZOĒ has accumulated a loyal following, captivated by her unique sound that refuses to be eclipsed by its commercial sheen. The distinct layers in TELL ME underscore this signature style. There’s a richness and depth that hints at her evolved artistry, stemming from her spiritual journey and commitment to authenticity.

The backdrop of ZOĒ’s life—her role as a mother and her connection to nature through her cat, chickens, and bees—adds a personal dimension to her music. These elements of her world seem to inform her art, allowing her to create music that is not only a salve for her soul but also for those who seek solace in her sound.

Heading into 2023, ZOĒ stands out as an artist to watch, promising a journey into the heart of music that is as transformative as it is melodic.

TELL ME was officially released on November 10th; stream the single on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The existential indie dance pop icon Saynt Ego augmented grief in ‘Big Mad World’

Posted on 19 September 2023

The indietronica icon in the making, Saynt Ego, strengthened the foundations that his legacy will undoubtedly rest upon with his double A-side single, Looking 4 U – Big Mad World.

While the vocals sing a bitter-sweet goodbye, the augmented-with-funk melodic lines pull you to transcendence and acceptance in Big Mad World. The chaos of the universe is efficaciously encapsulated in the hypersonic soundscape, and all the assurance you will need that you can overcome any obstacle on your healing journey lingers in the lyricism, which rings with melancholy standing alone. Within the anthemics of the indie dance-pop hit, the candour-fuelled verses are awakening poetry, which alludes to the tragedy of obsession with earthly escapism.

Penned after losing his best friend to suicide, Big Mad World tracks cosmic themes while being underpinned by the grief of knowing that the human experience can’t always be traversed with resilience alone.

Occupying a middle ground between Cigarettes After Sex and ABBA, Saynt Ego found plenty of room to assert his authenticity in the self-produced release, which was written by Will Retherford and the airwaves on September 8th.

Stream Big Mad World on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

tonka._.b has made her bedroom pop debut with the sticky-sweet indietronica single, Me & U

Posted on 29 August 2023

The bedroom pop artist tonka._.b has made her debut with the indietronic pop hit, Me & U. Right from the prelude you will be invited into a dreamy, almost ethereal electronically crafted universe, which shares a few proclivities with the tracks orchestrated by the likes of Shiny Toy Guns, Metric, and Kill Hannah. Just when you think the single is about to border on twee, bassier dance elements work their way into the progressive mix that delivers a barrage of curveballs to keep you on your toes right to the outro.

It may be rough around some of the songwriting edges in some parts, and transitions between the verses and chorus could be smoother, but the up-and-coming artist clearly has an ear for a melody, and there is no telling where it could take her in the future – stay tuned and keep her on your radar.

Me & U was officially released on August 21; stream it on all major platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Softmax connects through disjointed isolation in her Lynchian installation of electronica, Swishers

Posted on 9 August 2023
Softmax

Silence fell after the 2022 debut EP, But What If There Isn’t?, from the Chicago-native Softmax; in her time away from the airwaves, she honed her craft and primed herself for her latest single, Swishers.

Co-produced by Joel Ford, of How to Dress Well fame, and Berlin’s premier electronica producer, Gabriel Gifford, Swishers sets a dramatically Lynchian tone to create a dystopian synthpop backdrop for the portrayal of inwardly imploding isolation while everyone falsifies their lives online.

The sentiment is just as resonant as the score orchestrated to depict the agonisingly disjointing feelings. Clearly, Softmax has a talent for reflecting the rawest facets of the human experience back at us. The syncopated beats and oscillating synths paint a portrait of how it feels when black holes of alienation form as a fixture in the arrangement of your bedroom furniture.

In her own words: “It’s about wanting to connect with the world and understand people while feeling further and further from it,”

Swishers will hit the airwaves on August 9th as a courtesy of the London-based indie record label, Psychotic Reaction Music. Stream it on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Silverhours reached the pinnacle of art-rock innovation with ‘The Miser’

Posted on 5 August 2023

With the artfulness of Radiohead, the arcane beguile of Bjork, the atmospherics of Mogwai, and the elevated ornate grace of Sigur Ros, the standout single, The Miser, from the sonic exploration of an album, Madeleine Moment, by Silverhours is a sensually multi-sensory firestorm of gravitas.

By amalgamating jazz and electronica in an intimately lo-fi production space, The Miser is the epitome of uninhibited expression, orchestrated by an artist enthralled by the geometry of musical rhythms. In full, the LP tracks a story that scarcely leaves any of the visceral emotions by the wayside; they’re all materialised in the juxtapositions between melodies, harmonies and memories to capture the haunting echoes of the past.

After getting kudos from Nick Cave after winning his online covers competition, Silverhours started to pick up traction in their career, leading to the launch of this drenched with evocative ingenuity debut LP. If it’s good enough for Nick Cave, it is good enough for your playlists.

Stream Madeleine Moment in full by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Skinny G Radio showed trauma the door in his euphoric indie-pop anthem, Pain, Go!

Posted on 9 June 2023

Fans of The Airborne Toxic Event, Sam Fender and Mark Ronson will want to grab themselves a slice of the latest single, Pain, Go! from the indietronic pop innovator, Skinny G Radio.

In contrast to the high-energy production, which rivals the euphonic records under the deft touch of Jon Bellion, the lyrical themes tread through the darker waters of our deeply personal relationships with trauma.

Anyone who has lived through it will know the fear of not being able to recognise themselves without it, as much as they want to show it the door for the final time. The Connecticut-born and raised songwriter, producer and performer, with his John Mayer-ESQUE songwriting chops, paid euphoric homage to that conflicting experience while orchestrating the ultimate indie pop earworm you can turn to time after time for the solace of the stabbing synth lines, soul-soaked vocal harmonies and layers of funk wrapping around the pop hooks to alchemise the perfect aural remedy for ennui.

Pain, Go! will be available to stream from June 9th. Hear it on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

Avicii meets Depeche Mode in Policy’s latest genre-mash, I’d Wait for You ft Sergi Yaro

Posted on 23 May 2023
Policy

The award-winning genre-melding producer, Policy, is back on the airwaves following the successful launch of his debut LP, Echo Chambers, in 2020 and the sophomore album, The Abby Rose, in 2022. This time, the Ohio-based beat master collaborated with the Ukrainian singer-songwriter Sergi Yaro to awaken sentimental senses with I’d Wait for You.

The falsetto vocal lines against the dark, droning and dancey synths and harbingering percussive beats, which slam to sonically attest to how dark the waters of a loveless reality can be, is an alchemic combination, which won’t fail to drag you into the murky core of this experimental hit which could win over mainstream electronica fans and alt-electro heads alike. Instrumentally, if you found the middle ground between Depeche Mode and Avicii, you’d find I’d Wait for You resoundfully residing there.

I’d Wait for You is due for official release on May 23; hear it on the artist’s official website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

London indietronica artist Lily Juniper is anxiously auspicious in her narratively dreamy single, All Mine

Posted on 26 March 2023

After a successful debut in 2022, Lily Juniper enriched the London indie electronica scene with her dreamily dance-leaning sophomore single, All Mine.

The ethereally warm vocals inject as much soul into the production as the softly tensile looped progressions as they wrap the vibrant texture around the affectionately uncertain lyrics, which project the compulsion to solidify a relationship when it is in its early stages of romantic hesitation.

We’ve all been there, not wanting to go all in for fear our vulnerability will lead to our greatest fears. But there’s nothing bittersweet as this Four Tet and James Blake-ESQUE soundscape. All Mine is as rich as Musk in its artful beguile, making the deeply evocative context of romantically anxious edge all the more intoxicating while the indietronica poetry in motion is auspiciously unravelling.

Lily Juniper said:

“All Mine is a song about new love and the nervous energy that it brings, about seeing someone you like at a party and then going home alone, about overthinking everything you said and did, reading into every word and look. All of the best (and worst) moments that humans can experience.”

Stream All Mine via Spotify.

Connect with Lily Juniper on Twitter & Instagram

Review by Amelia Vandergast